Sexual Assault Awareness Month
April is national Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM). This month we are focused on promoting survivor resources, educating our community on how each of us can support survivors in our lives, while working on building a culture of care and consent that promotes healthy relationships.
April 2026 marks the 25th anniversary of SAAM. We encourage our community to participate in the SAAM events listed below and follow our @bewellwwu Instagram account for more information.
"As we celebrate 25 years of SAAM, we recognize how far we’ve come and the work still ahead. Together, we can continue to shift culture, strengthen prevention, and create a world free from sexual violence." — National Sexual Violence Resource Center
Advocacy Support for Western Students
If you are a Western student who is experiencing or has experienced relationship abuse, sexual violence, stalking or harassment, you are not alone and confidential support is available through Western's Survivor Advocacy Services.
We are here to support you and help you heal from your experiences of violence/abuse. This service is for Western students. We affirm people of all identities and lived experiences. Please note, you do not have to identify yourself as a survivor or use the terms violence/abuse to describe your experience or in order to receive support.
If you are a concerned friend, partner, or family member of a Western student, support is also available for you.
Off-campus Support/Faculty and Staff Resources
If you are looking for an off-campus resource or you are not a Western student, support is available.
Support for WWU Faculty and Staff
Additional Confidential Campus Support
Civil Rights & Title IX Compliance
Support and reporting options are available through the Office for Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance (CRTC). Please note that CRTC is not a confidential resource but is an office that prioritizes your privacy. You do not need to make a formal complaint to receive supportive measures, which can include things like flexibility with course assignments, changes in living arrangements and access to emergency housing, adjustments to work schedules, no-contact requests and more. To learn about supportive measures and/or the formal complaint process reach out to Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance.
Survivor Support Group
The WWU Counseling and Wellness Center offers a support group for students who have experienced relationship abuse and/or sexual assault. It is available to and affirming of people of all sexual orientations and gender identities and aims to foster connections and support for one another in healing. If you are interested in joining, please contact Deidre Evans at 360-650-7982 or deidre.evans@wwu.edu.
Survivor Self-Care Guide
There are many ways to feel, cope, and heal after experiencing sexual assault or an abusive relationship. Please feel free to download our Survivor Self-care Guide and use what resonates with you.
Order a Survivor Self-Care Kit
If you are a Western student and would like a Survivor Self-Care Kit delivered to your address, please submit a request using the link below. Packages available while supplies last.
Take action by participating in SAAM events at Western throughout the month of April. Check back often for a list of upcoming events for 2026, and follow the @BeWellWWU account on Instagram for updates.
SAAM Resource Fair in Red Square
Stop by our teal tables to learn about campus and community resources and ways to promote healthy and safe relationships! Pick up a teal SAAM ribbon, consent stickers, Healthy Relationships checklist, and more. Free T-shirts available at our table while supplies last!
SAAM Resource Table at the Rec Center
Stop by our teal table at the Campus Rec Center to pick up consent and healthy relationships resources and learn how to support survivors in our community.
Sex, Disability & Pleasure
Join Health Promotion and Resilience and Disability Outreach Center for a conversation about disability, pleasure, and sex with folks from WinkWink, Bellingham's woman-owned, identity-inclusive sex shop. This event will include a demo with toys, books, and resources, as well as some tips, adaptations, and ideas for experiences that consider the spectrum of disabilities that we or our partners may be experiencing, including physical, cognitive, neurodiverse, sensory, and other disabilities.
SAAM Resource Table at the VU
Stop by our teal table in the VU 6th Floor Lobby to pick up consent and healthy relationships resources and learn how to support survivors in our community.
Trauma-informed Yoga
This workshop is designed to create a space for student survivors to participate in a trauma-informed yoga practice. The session offers a gentle yoga experience that focuses on mindfulness, breath work, and restorative poses to promote physical and emotional well-being. The workshop is specifically tailored to address the unique needs of survivors, fostering a sense of community, self-compassion, and body awareness.
Make.Shift Art Space Scene Safety Series
A 4-part workshop series offered by Make.Shift Art Space in downtown Bellingham. Led by educators, artists, and activists in the community, these workshops are open to anyone wanting to learn about creating a safer and more accountable community and to feel prepared and supported when harmful things happen.
Sexual Assault Awareness Month Flyer
Download the Sexual Assault Awareness Month flyer to post in your department and help us spread the word about our upcoming events.
Faculty/Staff Guide to Supporting Students
Download this resource for guidance on how to best support student survivors. Includes important information around faculty/staff reporting requirements.
Supporting Friends Who Are Survivors
Download this resource for guidance on how to best support your friends if they are not feeling safe in a relationship and/or experienced violence.
Consent Guidebook
Download this resource to access accurate information about consent and sexual communication in order to support you in your relationships.
Healthy Relationships Checklist
Download this resource to help you assess which areas of your relationships are strong and which may need some attention.
RAINN Redefining Resilience Guide
A web resource from RAINN, a national anti-sexual violence organization and operator of the National Sexual Assault Hotline. This healing learning series helps survivors of child sexual assault understand trauma, move past shame, disclose to loved ones, manage memories, and form trusting intimate relationships.
RAINN Overcoming Trauma After Sexual Violence Guide
A web resource from RAINN to help survivors explore steps you can take to start your healing journey.